Attachment for artificial limbs.



W. A. GILBERT.

ATTACHMENT FOR ARTIFICIAL LIMBS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1912.

1 43,687. Patented Nqv.5, 1912.

H {if f/// 6M WILLIAM A. GILBERT, 0F FLUSIIINGNEW YORK.

ATTACHMENT FOR ARTIFICIAL LIMBS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed. June 26, 1912.

Patented Nov. 5; 1912. Serial No. 706,044.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. GILBERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Flushing, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Artificial Limbs, of which the following is a specification. I

An object of the invention is a provide an attachment for artificial limbs whereby the weight of the body on the artificial limb, at the point of connection of the limb with the body, will be greatly reduced.

The invention relates more particularly to improvements in that class of devices in which connections to artificial limbs lessen the weight of the body on the limb at the point of connection of the limb "with the body and the invention includes a structure arranged so as not to inconvenience the wearer and adapted to be inclosed by the usual clothing of the wearer in such a manner that the casual observer will not notice a defect in the body of the person using the device.

In the further disclosure of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings constituting a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the device showing the same applied to a body having an artificial limb, the body being in upright position; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device applied to a body having an artificial limb, the body being in sitting po sition; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the pivotal connection between the crutch members; is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44 in Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the views, I employ a crutch member 10, preferably made of a single piece of material and consisting of a head 11 terminating in spaced rods 12, the said crutch member being, therefore, of a forked-shape construction, suitable pins 18.,being mounted to extend laterally from the free ends of the rods 12, the pins 13 being adapted to extend into apertures 14 formed in an artificial limb 15 at points below the connection of the artificial limb 15 with a body 16, straps 17 being connected to the rods and Fig. 4'

12 adjacent the pins 13' andadapted to encircle the artificial limb 15 to rigidly secure the crutch member 10 to the artificial limb below the point of con nection of the limb with the body 16. A second crutch member 18 is mounted to swingon the crutch member 10, the said second crutch member consisting of a head 19 terminating in upwardly extending rods 20 having a support 21 mounted on thefree ends thereof, the mentioned crutch member 18 being forked-shape similar to the crutch member '10, the head 19 of the crutch member 18 being bifurcated. to form ears 22 between which an ear 23, formed on the head 11 of the crutch member 10, is received, a pin 24 being mounted to extend transversely through the cars 22 and the ear 23 to pivotally connect the crutch member 18 with the crutchmember 10, the crutch member 18 being made of suflicient length so that the support 21 will lie in the armpit of the body 16, between an arm of the body and the body proper, as shown in the views.

It will be readily seen that with a device of the character described the wearer can readily assume any convenient position without displacing the crutch, the crutch member 10 being rigidly secured to the limb 15 and the crutch member 18 being mounted to swing on the crutch member 10 and having connection with the body 16 beneath an arm thereof, so that a large part of the weight of the body, instead of being supported at the point of connection of the ar: tificial limb 15. with the body 16, will be supported at a point below the connection of the artificial limb 15 with the body 16, thus preventing the usual irritation and soreness that is produced when the weight of the body is supported at the point of connection of the artificial limb with the body of the wearer.

The pins 13 and straps 17 are provided to retain the crutch member 10 in rigid'engagement with the artificial limb 15, and if desirable, it will be readily'seen that a series of apertures can be provided in the artificial limb to receive the pins 13, thus permitting of an adjustment of the crutch member 10 relatively to the artificial limb 15. As mentioned heretofore, the device, when applied to the body as explained, can be covered by the usual clothing of the wearer, thus preventing the casual observer from detecting the device, it being readily seen that the garments of the wearer will hang loosely around the device and inclose the same, the device being substantially arranged between an arm of the wearer and the body thereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fork shaped crutch member for rigid attachment to an artificial limb connected to abody, of a second fork shaped crutch member mounted to swing on the first mentioned crutch member and having the free end thereof adapted to lie in the armpit of the wearer.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with an artificial limb, of a forked crutch member rigidly secured to the artificial limb at a point below the connection of the artificial limb with the body of the wearer, of a second-fork shaped crutch member mounted to swing on the first fork shaped crutch member and adapted to extend into the armpit of the body of the wearer, and pins mounted on the first mentioned crutch member to engage the said artifical limb.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with an artificial limb, of a forked crutch member rigidly secured to the artificial limb at a point below the connection of the artificial limb with the body of the wearer, of a second fork shaped crutch member mounted to swing on the first fork shaped crutch member and adapted to extend into the armpit of the body of the wearer, pins mountedon the first mentioned crutch member to engage the said artificial limb, and straps mounted on the first mentioned crutch member and encircling the said artificial limb to rigidly retain the first mentioned crutch member in engagement with the said limb.

In testimony whereof I al'lix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A; GILBERT.

lVitnesses:

MARY OMEARA, C. B. AKKER, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

